The Boat School was founded in 1969 and is today Maine's most
broad based and affordable school of professional boat building. Located
in a large well equipped facility right on the water on Moose Island with its
own docks and harbor The Boat School offers complete instruction in
traditional wood construction, modern wood and epoxy construction, fiberglass
and other composite construction methods and marine systems. Maine has
been a center of fine boat building for centuries, yet today there is a shortage
of qualified applicants for jobs in boat repair and construction facilities the
full length of the Maine Coast. In addition Maine trained boat builders
are highly sought after by boat building operations on the entire East Coast of
the United States. Boat building, restoration, and repair pays well and is
a highly respected skill with continuing demand for skilled workers higher than
the supply. It is routine for boatbuilding firms to offer to hire every
person that they can get their hands on from the graduating classes of this
school.

Classes are conducted in large well equipped shops, drafting rooms,
and computer laboratories at the facility in Eastport, which also has an
extensive marine library, and an excellent waterfront facility with a 60 ton Travelift and a large granite launching ramp. Students who bring their own
boats will be able to take advantage of the last unspoiled protected cruising
grounds in the United States, where they may see whales, eagles, seals, ospreys
and just about any other kind of water or land animal native to the Northeast.

Through a combination of technical instruction and practical
boat building experience, students acquire an understanding of the basic
principles of marine drafting and marine systems as well as the skills needed to
loft, build, and maintain wood and fiberglass boats.

Downtown Eastport - The Easternmost City in the
United States

Wood Construction

This portion of the program introduces students to wooden boat
building. The first year focuses on traditional construction methods
combined with an introduction to marine drafting and lofting. Generally
small teams of students each build a 17' traditional plank on frame carvel
planked pulling boat.

Part of the School's Large Pier and Float
System at The Boat School's Harbor

Marine Systems

The marine systems portion of the program covers AC and DC
electrical systems, refrigeration and air conditioning, steering and controls,
marine plumbing, standing and running rigging and other components.

One of the 17' Pulling Boats Built by 1st. Year
Students. Boatbuilding Firms Know If Students Can Build
Beautiful Three Dimensional Shapes in Wood, They Can Build Anything

Fiberglass and Other Composite
Construction Methods

This section of the program will build upon the skills mastered
in the "Wood Construction" portions of the program and introduces the student to
fiberglass. Mold preparation and use, resin types, fabric options,
synthetic core materials and other materials will be taught. Students will
learn both construction and repair techniques. A major portion of this
instruction will focus on current and emerging technologies. Projects will
involve vacuum bagging, infusion, cold molded, hand laid fiberglass
construction.

You Can Be Sure Boat School Students Can Handle
Even the Most Exotic Materials Safely

Upon completion of the two year program graduates will be
qualified for entering the job market in the following types of positions: